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Question about tips to prevent or stop motion sickness while cruising.

Q: "What do you suggest to avoid, prevent and/or stop motion sickness while cruising? We are planning our first cruise aboard a ship that holds about 2500 people.. Thanks. Mary."

Answer: My significant other Jack and I are now "Elite" Black Card holders on Princess Cruise Line. Below are some suggestions about getting the most cruise for your money and avoiding locations on the ship that are more prone to motion sickness if you hit some rough seas.

Book a cabin mid-ship or just behind mid-ship. Avoid forward cabins especially at the bow where the front of the ship is going to bounce up and down.

Book a cabin on decks 5 through 8 if possible. Remember that you want to avoid being close to public areas where it could get noisy. The higher you are the more the sway.

The Captain puts out stabilizers to help reduce the rock and roll from rough seas.

Remember that Scopolamine patches do work but can cause side effects like blurry vision. dilated pupils,dizziness, etc. To be effective, the patch must be in place 4 hours before needed.

Over the counter medications often have restrictions about drinking alcoholic beverages and can make you drowsy. Ginger helps some people. Most medications must be taken before you get ill.

Consider buying a Reliefband Voyager. My own experience with Reliefbands (and the experience of employees and customers) has been extremely positive. When the seas get moderately rough and I begin to feel a little ill, I activate my Relief Band for 10 to 15 minutes. Generally that is all it takes. When the seas are truly rough, my method of coping is to take a nap wearing the Reliefband. If your bed is situated so that the sides are parallel to the outside of the ship, that is even better. You just get rocked to sleep. The Voyager requires no prescription and has about 120 hours of activation time. Unless you are in a typhoon or hurricane, the rough seas don't last long. On one voyage to China, our captain missed one stop and changed course to avoid rough seas (and he succeeded).

Here are some tips about cruising that we learned through the years:

Choose a cruise line and stay with it. We chose Princess Cruises who has a great loyalty program. They also have laundromats so you can do laundry if you are not Elite (we get free laundry, a mini-bar, a special cocktail hour and much more.)

Put money on deposit on your first cruise. On Princess, $100 per person holds a cabin until the final payment is due. Jack usually keeps $600 in his account. Any time you want, you can get the money back. If not used within a certain number of years, Princess sends it back to you.

Buy Carnival stock. As a shareholder, you get "cabin credit" for owning the stock. The minimum used to be 100 shares to get that.

A Veteran of the US Armed Forces? Get your DD214 and get extra cabin credit.

Check the prices on line. Every time the price goes down (and it may be only for a few days to get the ship filled), you can request that your cabin cost be reduced.

One dining room is open for lunch on almost every boarding day when you get on the ship before lunch. Avoid the buffet if you can.

Any time dining for us is the best. The first night is always a crowd during the earlier hours. You can get a reservation. Set dining puts restrictions on important activities like tours and naps.

If you want Eggs Benedict and they are not on the menu, just order them. Also you can have fresh fruit like papaya or berries at any meal. And you can order breakfast in your room even earlier than the sign says (great if you have an early shore excursion.)

Remember that you can book shore excursions through private companies. However, if a Princess excursion is late in returning to the ship, you won't be left without clothes, a passport, etc. If a private one is late, the ship may leave without you.

Interior cabins are great for most cruises where (1) you've been there before or (2) the weather is so cold that a balcony would rarely be used. The mirrors make the room appear larger and how much time are you in there anyway? Our least expensive cruise was $48 each per day from Galveston to Southampton, England.

Repositioning cruises and cruises at the least popular times of year are the least expensive. We spent 24 days on Alaskan cruises in September 2013 and had a lot of fun with our new friends (and people on cruises are quite sociable, typically) and just walking around the ports. First run movies. A great library. Magicians. Shows, etc.

Tip your cabin steward $20 or so on the first day: your service will be even better

Request a top sheet, a blanket and a new piece of memory foam on your bed. Don't be surprised if the sheet goes on top of the duvet. And the blanket on that. That is especially great for us older women who are hot and cold during the night.

Bring a night light for the bathroom. Choose one with identical prongs, the old fashioned low wattage type. There are two outlets in every cabin. One in the bathroom and one at the desk.

There is a hair dryer, one of those rectangular ones hung on the wall.

If you have a CPAP, bring a cord at least 12 feet long, again with identical prongs, not grounded. Otherwise request an extension cord when you get to your cabin. You can also request distilled water and a cord in advance. I figure on 2 gallons per two week cruise because I might spill some!

We find the soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, etc. quite good. If your nose is tender, bring your own Kleenex, theirs is not as soft.

We find that if there are visas or plane reservations, it is best to turn this over near departure time (sometimes earlier) to a travel agent to handle. Jack lets her get the paper work done and make a few dollars. Also on our last cruise, the travel agent handled our change of airlines, etc. when Princess asked us to change ships as ours was overbooked to San Francisco. That saved us a night in a hotel and from getting up at 4 a.m. to get a 6 a.m. flight. We got our transfers to the LA airport from Princess free for being such nice people.

I hope this has helped. We learned most of this from other travelers and our own more than 30 cruises. Remember you can use a cruise ship as a floating resort. Where else is your room cleaned twice a day, you can have excellent dining room food three times a day, snacks even in the middle of the night and a huge buffet if you choose that. Tea, coffee and lemonade are free in the dining room

Q: "Recently, I began having attacks of vertigo. Some are mild, some are not. Along with that, I feel nausea, almost like mild morning sickness. Can the ReliefBand help?" Thanks. Fran

Answer: Nausea is nausea no matter what the cause. My employees and I have successfully used Reliefbands for nausea from flu, from migraines and also from vertigo. Recently, I've had to deal with those symptoms myself. According to internet sites, the symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) usually last only a few seconds to a few minutes and are intermittent (i.e., come and go). Rolling over in bed, getting out of bed, swinging on a swing, etc. can also cause symptoms of lightheadedness and imbalance as well as nausea. Unfortunately, BPPV is more common as we grow older. ccording to the American Academy of Neurology, the most effective treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) caused by ear crystals in the posterior semicircular canal, are treatments where the patient moves head and body in certain positions. The idea is to move the calcium crystals into another inner ear canal where the body can absorb them. This OTC Relief Band is disposable and gives up to 120 hours of mild electrical stimulation to the inside of either wrist. First you apply a thin layer of conductive gel (included) and then turn the unit on until you can feel mild stimulation in the palm of your hand going up into your fingers. Increase intensity until you feel relief. Decrease and then turn it off for as long as 15-30 minutes once the nausea subsides. Batteries cannot be replaced. We cannot guarantee success for every user. Once shipped, the unit is not returnable except for mechanical defect due to hygienic and limited hours of usage. Compare to the side effects from most OTC or Rx medications. You don't have to worry about blurred vision (often with the patch) nor abstaining from a glass of wine (if you are old enough).

We also sell conductive gel in separate packages. The units work best with conductive gel. Remember the Reliefband if you get seasick or airsick, too.

Thank you for your question. Good luck. What was recommended for me was physical therapy,too.

Q: "Recently, I began having attacks of vertigo. Some are mild, some are not. Along with that, I feel nausea, almost like mild morning sickness. Can the ReliefBand help?" Thanks. Fran

Answer: Nausea is nausea no matter what the cause. My employees and I have successfully used Reliefbands for nausea from flu, from migraines and also from vertigo. Recently, I've had to deal with those symptoms myself. According to internet sites, the symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) usually last only a few seconds to a few minutes and are intermittent (i.e., come and go). Rolling over in bed, getting out of bed, swinging on a swing, etc. can also cause symptoms of light headedness and imbalance as well as nausea. Unfortunately, BPPV is more common as we grow older. according to the American Academy of Neurology, the most effective treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) caused by ear crystals in the posterior semicircular canal, are treatments where the patient moves head and body in certain positions. The idea is to move the calcium crystals into another inner ear canal where the body can absorb them. In the meantime, your physical therapist or physician might direct you to a non-prescription OTC like Bonine or a prescription medication.

The advantage of the Reliefband is that nausea generally subsides or diminishes in a few minutes to 20 minutes. The Relief Band works for almost every one. NOTE: Warranties: Limited to replacement of mechanically defective units within the warranty period of 30 days after purchase. ReliefBands® are not guaranteed to be effective in every case for nausea relief. Effectiveness varies with each user's characteristics. Once shipped, ReliefBands® are NOT returnable for refund: this is due to both mechanical and hygienic reason. If the unit is deemed defective by the manufacturer, the unit will be replaced.

The Reliefband EL has about 120 hours of useful time. Then change two CR2025 batteries! The electrodes look like two half clam shells. Just turn it on and off as needed. Note: hours of useful time are based upon use at levels 2 and 3. To use, apply a small circle of conductive gel on the underside of your left or right wrist. Place the Reliefband electrodes on that spot. Tighten the adjustable band (does contain latex) until snug. Turn the unit on by pressing the button in the middle. Most people set it at level 2 or 3. If you are very nauseous, begin with level 4 or level 5. When you feel relief, push the center button until you get to 2 or 3. Turn unit off when not needed: saves the battery.

FDA-cleared, the wrist-worn relief device is effective for almost everyone. For most people the EL is an insurance policy of sorts: much less expensive than a fine meal with wine or one day of cruising. The EL has replaceable batteries. For about one dollar per hour of therapy, you get relief without the side effects of medications. And there are no dietary or drinking restrictions.

The motion sickness ReliefBand® is an over-the-counter nerve stimulation device that emits gentle electrical pulses you barely notice after a few minutes. It is not painful: Tingling sensations flow from your wrist and into your fingers depending upon how you hold your hand. The mild electrical impulses gently stimulate the median nerve on the underside of the wrist, working with the body's natural neural system to prevent and control motion sickness. Resembles a watch with 5 different stimulation strengths. Worn on the underside of the wrist on either hand, the Relief Band is more effective than passive pressure bands for nausea.

For long term use, we recommend buying the Reliefband Bundle which includes one tube of extra gel and two extra batteries.This patented electronic medical device's effectiveness is supported by clinically proven studies. Pressure bands with knobs on the bottom apply passive pressure to an area for which the body soon accommodates for the pressure and ignores the stimulation. The variable pulsing electronic stimulation of the ReliefBand® means the body is not allowed to accommodate. Also the mild buzzing sensation in the palm and middle fingers lets you know the correct nerve is being stimulated.

Other ReliefBand® Information:

Motion Sickness medical device works without taking nausea medicine.

Help alleviate nausea from high altitude sickness, travel in cars, trains, planes or boats.

Treating nausea without medicine.

Construction: Solid-state reliability. Shock-resistant. Water resistant to splashing water (waves and rain).

The ReliefBand® EL is FDA-cleared: effective for most people. Not guaranteed to work for every one.

The EL comes with pre-installed, replaceable batteries.

Note: Due to mechanical and hygienic reasons, units are returnable only if mechanically defective as deemed by Reliefband with 30 days after purchase.

Made in Malaysia

We also sell conductive gel which is needed for the Relief Band to function at its best. Many people buy a spare tube just in case the primary one is lost. Remember the Reliefband if you get sea sick, car sick or air sick, too. It is FDA cleared for children 12 and above. There is neither indication or contraindication from the FDA as to use of the ReliefBand® by children.

Reliefband EL units are now in stock. Thank you for your question. Good luck.

Q: "I am going on a cruise and am concerned about getting motion sick. My physician suggested the Trans Derm Patch. You put that on behind an ear and it is supposed to work for 3 days without drowsiness. What are the pros and cons of a Reliefband compared to the patch?"Thanks. Sara

Answer: Both products are widely used. Personally, my experience with the Trans Derm patch back in the 1980's was mixed as I was not motion sick but my vision was blurred somewhat. I had followed the instructions about carefully applying the patch. Later I used the Reliefband while riding the Ferris wheel, the carousel and several wilder amusement park rides with absolutely no motion sickness. I've also used it for flu nausea, headache nausea and to help with vertigo symptoms. All uses were successful.

This is from the manufacturer's website about the Trans Derm Patch:

Trans Derm Patch Information:

A prescription is needed.

Cost: currently $20 to $25 each.

Applied to bare skin behind either ear. (Alternate if used for more than 3 days.)

Not for children under 18 years old

Not for people who have or have had glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyeball), have difficulty urinating, or an allergy to the active ingredient, scopolamine or other belladonna alkaloids.

Side Effects: Dryness of the mouth: in about two thirds of the people. A less frequent side effect is drowsiness, which occurs in less than one sixth of the people. Temporary blurring of vision and dilation (widening) of the pupils may occur, especially if the drug is on your hands and comes in contact with the eyes. On infrequent occasions, disorientation, memory disturbances, dizziness, restlessness, hallucinations, confusion, difficulty urinating, skin rashes or redness, temporary changes in heart rate such as palpitations, dry itchy, or reddened whites of the eyes, and eye pain have been reported. If these effects do occur, remove the patch and call your doctor. Since drowsiness, disorientation, and confusion may occur with the use of scopolamine, be careful driving or operating any dangerous machinery, especially when you first start using the drug system.

Effective for about 3 days.

When using this product, do not use alcohol, drive, operate dangerous machinery, or do things requiring alertness.

If you are elderly, your physician should exercise care in prescribing the Transderm Scōp® patch.

Keep the patch dry, if possible, to prevent it from falling off. Limited contact with water, however, as in bathing or swimming, will not affect the system. In the unlikely event that the patch falls off, throw it away and put a new one behind the other ear.

Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after handling the patch, so that any drug that might get on your hands will not come into contact with your eyes.

Relief Band EL with Replaceable Batteries Information:

No prescription needed: FDA approved for over the counter use for nausea or motion sickness prevention.

Worn on the underside of either wrist (or both wrists if desired). Applies periodic gentle nerve stimulation at one of 5 levels you choose.

Tested on children age 12 or older. Can be used on younger children

No side effects except for those with nickel allergies or allergies to latex (the band).

Requires use of an inexpensive conductive gel. (Included)

Uses two CR2025 lithium batteries which last about 120 hours on level 3 stimulation. Can be replaced.

No restrictions on alcohol use, no drowsiness, no dizziness, etc.

Use as prevention or to stop motion sickness. Positive results in about 99% of those using it within 15 to 20 minutes.

No restrictions for the elderly

Can be reused over and over: replace batteries when red light blinks.

Splash resistant: not waterproof

Adjustable to fit even the smallest wrists. Customers report using them on young children with great success. We've had customers report great success with motion sickness from vertigo and similar ailments.

Wear on either wrist.

Warranty: 30 days from date of purchase. (I have an original one from 1999 that still works!)

Made in Malaysia

Thank you for your interesting question. Enjoy your trip. Do remember that if you choose to drink alcohol, operate a car, etc. we do recommend the Reliefband over the prescription product.